edwards. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized. ms. edwards: thank you, mr. speaker. and i thank the gentleman from connecticut, both for your leadership and i share in your absolute sorrow. and to honor the memory of the 20 children and six educators who lost their lives in this really horrific attack at sandy hook elementary school in newtown, connecticut. my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families and our first responders and all of those both in newtown and across this country who are affected by this tragedy. first as a mother my heart truly aches for the parents who lost their children, young and old. lost their future. but as a member of congress, i also know that we're not doing nearly enough to protect our children and to protect our communities from gun violence. in cities and rural areas, schools, offices and homes, this has happened far too many times in far too many communities all across our country. in my district alone, there have been over 160 incidences of gun violence in -- this year. and 46 people in my district have l